The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Money
Fans become hot property as homes gear up for heatwave
Sales of fans have soared as Britain gears up for temperatures to consistently breach 20C (68F) for the first time this year.
The Met Office forecasts sunny temperatures of 21C for the next few days.
Shoppers have tried to get ahead of the game this summer by stockpiling fans after retailers sold out during last year’s extended heatwave as home workers splashed out desperate to beat the heat.
DIY retailer Toolstation said sales had surged by 213pc in the past week alone. It also reported a
95pc increase in sales of builders’ shorts for DIY enthusiasts and a 36pc rise in T-shirt sales.
Eager gardeners also flocked to the retailer for supplies – sales of watering cans have seen a significant boost, with sales up by 147pc compared with the same period last year. Additionally, lawn mower sales have risen by 37pc.
Sarah Gale, the category manager at Toolstation, said: “With the nation strapping in for a scorcher, it’s little surprise that they are looking for ways to keep cool.
“Demand for fans and air cooling devices have seen big increases in the past week.”
Thankfully, retailers’ propensity to bump up prices in times of peak demand does not extend to fans. According to PriceSpy, which tracks retail prices across hundreds of online retailers, prices for several types of desk fan remain static throughout the year.
The summer months bring a surge in spending across Britain, according to Barclays. Spending data provided by the bank showed spending in pubs and bars was up 27.3pc over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Barclays said spending at camping and caravan sites had also rose by 18.1pc from the year before while expenditure in golf and football centres was up 16.7pc. “This uplift in trade will be some welcome news for the hospitality sector, amidst the ongoing strain of rising energy bills and the impact of the cost of living,” said Marc Pettican, of Barclaycard, the credit card provider. “Businesses will no doubt remain hopeful that customers continue to offer their support and keep venues busy as we head into the summer season.”